Device for splicing data processing forms



United States Patent 3,220,912 DEVICE FGR SPLIClNG DATA PROCESSING FURMSEino Emil Liinnqvist, Munkkiniemi, Finland, assignor to 0y. Paragon Ala,Helsinki, Finland, :1 company of Finland Filed Aug. 17, 1961, Ser. No.132,235 Claims. (Cl. 156-545) The following invention consists of adevice for splicing data processing forms.

Ever more automatized statistical and other data processing machines arebeing used in trade and industry for processing data on cards in theform of a continuous, highspeed operation. To ensure smooth anduninterrupted infeed, data processing forms (e.g. punch cards) arenowadays arranged in the form of a continuous strip in which each cardcan be separated from the next by tearing along the perforation betweenthem. These strips, how ever, cannot be made of unlimited length, andfeeding in a new strip means stopping the machine, thus reducing itsefficiency-as even the few minutes spent on the operation signifies adelay in feeding data on to tens or even hundreds of cards. The machinesare comparatively expensive to run and every effort should be made toavoid interruptions of all kinds.

To eliminate the stoppage described above, strips of sticky tape of alentgh corresponding to the width of the forms are used to splice thelatter. The ends of the adhesive strips are furnished with holescorresponding to those on the edges of the cards themsleves. Down themiddle of the strip, from one end to the other, there is a perforationcoinciding with the joint between the two cards. A special splicingtable has been developed for the purpose of fastening the adhesivestrips. At one end of the table there are two or more fixed pins whichfit the holes of the cards, the distance between each being the same asthe division between the holes in the cards. At the other end of thetable are sliding pins which can be adjusted to suit the Width of thecards.

To join two strips of cards together, adhesive strips of a lengthcorresponding to their width are selected and one is placed in positionwith its holes fitting on to the pins and its sticky side facingupwards. On it are placed the ends of the two card strips with theirside holes fitting on to the pins and the perforation in the adhesivetape coming exactly between their ends. Another adhesive strip is thenusually placed on top of the cards with its sticky side downwards, andpressed tight, this completes the forming of the splice, and the cardscan be removed.

The above method, however, has several drawbacks which considerably slowdown the operation. For example, since the widths of the card stripsvary considerably, separate lentghs of sticky tape must be prepared andstored for each width. Further, to prevent them from sticking to eachother while in storage, their sticky sides have to be provided with aprotective cover which must be removed before use. All of this reducesthe speed of handling.

The object of the present invention is to eliminate all the abovementioned drawbacks. The device according to the invention comprises abase plate near one end of which are two or more fixed pins the size ofthe holes in the data processing cards, at a distance from each othercorresponding to the normal distance between theholes in the cards and/or a multiple of this. At some distance from the fixed pins are two ormore sliding pins moving parallel to each other. The distances betweenthe sliding pins corresponds to those between the fixed ones. Regardlessof their width, the cards can be positioned with their ends against eachother between these two sets of pins. The

principal feature of the invention is that above the base plate arefitted one or more guide rods along which slides a carriage containing adevice for holding a roll of sticky tape so that it can easily be turnedand unrolled. Under the carriage there is a roller or wheel whichpresses against the base plate to force the sticky tape down on to thepunch cards, and another roller furnished with a notching device, spikesor similar protuberances for making the perforation in the sticky tapeafter it has been stuck to the cards. The second roller is fitted insuch a way as to perforate the sticky tape exactly between the ends ofthe cards at the same time as the carriage moves along the guide rod orrods.

The device according to the invention and its manner of operation aredescribed below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which showone embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows the same device as seen from above.

The reference character 1 in the drawing is the base plate of theapparatus, furnished with four fixed pins 2. The distance between thetwo middle pins is three times that between the holes in the cards. Inthe base plate 1 are four longitudinal grooves 3 along which slidingpins 4 at the same distances from each other as the fixed pins 2 can bemoved parallel to each other in either direction so as to conform to thewidth of the cards being spliced. Positioning is facilitated by agraduated scale 5 on the side of the base plate 1, and a correspondingarrow 7 on the plate 6 in which the sliding pins 4 are mounted.

Above the base plate 1 are two guide rods 8 which are round in sectionand run parallel to the grooves 3. The guide rods 8 are joined to eitherend of the base plate by vertical support plates 9 and 10. Support plate9 is joined to the base plate 1 by bearings on an axle 11 running acrossthe base plate. This plate 9 can thus be pivoted from its verticalposition on this axle. Support plate 10 is positioned by pressing downonto guide pins 12 in the base plate 1, which enter corresponding holesin the support plate 10.

Sliding along the guide rods 8 is a carriage 13 at the centre of which aroll of sticky tape 15 turns between the guide rods 8 on an axle 14. Apress wheel 18, preferably rubber surfaced, turns on an axle 17 fittedbetween lobes 16 which are joined to the underside of the carriage 13,and slightly forward of centre of it. This wheel 18 is positionedexactly midway between the guide rods on the same vertical plane as thereel of sticky tape 15. On the other side of the reel 15 from the roller18, also exactly midway between the guide rods is fitted a perforatingwheel 19 which is furnished with a notching device or something similar.This wheel turns on ball bearings in a fork 20, the shaft 21 of which isfitted into a hole drilled in the carriage 13, this hole being furnishedwith a spring load adjustment screw 22. The movement of the carriage 13is stabilized by wheels 23 directly under the guide rods 8, each wheelturning in its own fork 24 fastened to the carriage 13.

The device functions as follows: Support plate 10 is raised off itsguide pins 12, the guide rods 8 and carriage 13 are lifted up and theholes on one side of the cards are fitted over the fixed pins 2 so thatthe confronting ends of the two cards positioned side-by-side cometogether. The sliding pins 4 are moved to a position corresponding tothe width of the cards and fitted into the holes on the other side ofthem in the same way as pins 2. The data processing forms are now inposition, the joint being exactly half-way between the two middle pinsof groups 2 and 4. Adhesive tape is passed from the reel 15 over theroller 18, with the sticky side facing outwards from said roller. Theend of the tape is fastened either by sticking it down on to the baseplate 1, beyond the edge of the cards, or by inserting it into anoblique groove 25 above the perforating Wheel 19 in the carriage 13,which ensures that the sticky tape runs straight and true when presseddown. Then the guide rods 8 and carriage 13 are lowered and the supportplate 10 positioned on its guide pins 12. The carriage 13 is pushed,gently pressing, over the joint between the cards. The pressing wheel 18presses the tape down over the ends of the cards, thus splicing them,and behind it comes the perforating wheel 19, which, beingspring-loaded, presses against the sticky tape and perforates it exactlybetween the ends of the cards. When the wheel 18 reaches the far edge ofthe cards, the tape is cut by a blade 26 fitted in the appropriateposition on the base plate 1. The other end of the tape can be cut bysuitable means after the spliced data processing cards are removed fromthe base plate.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but canbe varied within the scope of the claims.

' WhatIclaim is:

1. A device for splicing data processing cards consisting of a baseplate near one end of which are at least two fixed pins of the same sizeas the holes in the cards and at the same distances from each other asthe holes of the cards, and, at an adjustable distance from said fixedpins towards the other end of the base plate, at least two sliding pinsmoving parallel to each other, the distances between which correspond tothose between the fixed pins, between which two groups of pins the dataprocessing forms can be fitted with their ends abutting, at least oneguide rod positioned above the base plate, a carriage slidably mountedon the guide rod, a device on the carriage for holding a reel ofunperforated adhesive tape in such a way that it can be turned andunrolled freely, a first roller mounted on the bottom of the carriagewhich presses against the base plate so as to force the adhesive tapedown onto the cards, and a second roller fitted with notching means forperforating the tape after it has been pressed down on the cards, thesaid second roller being mounted on the carriage in such a Way that thetape is perforated exactly between the ends of the cards as the carriagemoves along the guide rod.

2. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first roller issurfaced with an elastic material.

3. A device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the second roller isspring-loaded.

4. A device in accordance with claim 1, comprising support plates, oneof the support plates being attached to the base plate by hearings onwhich it can turn, the ends of the guide rods being affixed to therespective support plate.

5. A device in accordance with claim 1, comprising a cutter bladeafiixed in upwardly facing position on the base plate with its cuttingedge parallel with the edge of the punch cards, beyond and centrallybetween the fixed pins on the base plate.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 271,848 2/1883Holton 83-12 1,396,895 11/1921 Stolz 156-505 2,827,104 3/1958 Rives156505,

EARL M. BERGERT, Primary Examiner.

1. A DEVICE FOR SPLICING DATA PROCESSING CARDS CONSISTING OF A BASEPLATE NEAR ONE END OF WHICL ARE AT LEAST TWO FIXED PINS OF THE SAME SIZEAS THE HOLES IN THE CARDS, AND AT THE SAME DISTANCES FROM EACH OTHER ASTHE HOLES OF THE CARDS, AND, AT AN ADJUSTABLE DISTANCE FROM SAID FIXEDPINS TOWARDS THE OTHER END OF THE BASE PLATE, AT LEAST TWO SLIDING PINSMOVING PARALLEL TO EACH OTHER, THE DISTANCES BETWEEN WHICH CORRESPOND TOTHOSE BETWEEN TH FIXED PINS, BETWEEN WHICH TWO GROUPS OF PINS THE DATAPROCESSING FORMS CAN BE FITTED WITH THEIR ENDS ABUTTING, AT LEAST ONEGUIDE ROD POSITIONED ABOVE THE BASE PLATE, A CARRIAGE SLIDABLY MOUNTEDON THE GUIDE ROD, A DEVICE ON THE CARRIAGE FOR HOLDING A REEL OFUNPERFORATED ADHESIVE TAPE IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT CAN BE TURNED ANDUNROLLED FREELY, A FIRST ROLLER MOUNTED ON THE BOTTOM OF THE CARRIAGEWHICH